November 7, 2024
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 07.11.2024, 13:55
MINIMUM WAGE – The national minimum wage will go up to the equivalent of 810 EUR starting January 1, 2025, according to a government decree expected to be adopted in today’s meeting. The government’s decision practically complies with the European directive that requires that the minimum wage in member states should not be less than 50% of the average gross wage.
EPC – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, is attending the two-day Summit of the European Political Community (EPC) and the informal meeting of the European Council, organized in Budapest, the Presidency reports. President Iohannis will call for a united and firm position of European leaders regarding the security developments in the region, as well as the continuation of support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression. Also, the president of Romania will take part in a discussion panel addressing issues related to migration, on which occasion he will plead for the identification of solutions at European level in the field of managing illegal migration, in the short term, as well as through a more comprehensive approach in the long term, which would allow for greater cohesion and efficiency at European level in addressing this phenomenon. The European Political Community is an intergovernmental format of political dialogue between European states, seeking to boost cooperation on issues of common interest, in order to strengthen security and stability on the European continent.
AGRICULTURE – The Common Agricultural Policy needs a separate budget, and farmers need to be sure they will receive the funds without limitations linked to the rule of law or other unrelated conditions, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, said in Bucharest. On the sidelines of his official visit to Romania, the EU Commissioner attended the National Conference of the Romanian Farmers’ Club jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu. The European official said that, at EU level, the agricultural trade balance with third countries reached a record surplus of 70 billion EUR in 2023. The Conference was attended by farmers, high-ranking Romanian and European officials with responsibilities in the development of agriculture policies and strategies, leaders in the field of agricultural technologies, as well as representatives of farmers’ associations at European and national levels.
SEDM – The Republic of Moldova is a full member of the South-East Europe Defense Ministerial Process (SEDM), hosted by Tirana, Albania, Romania’s Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, said during a meeting with his Moldovan counterpart, Anatolie Nosatîi. Talks focused on recent security developments in the Black Sea region and Moldova’s European integration efforts. Minister Tîlvăr emphasized the importance of firm support for the Republic of Moldova in the face of security challenges and destabilization attempts, part of the hybrid actions of the Russian Federation. Angel Tîlvăr emphasized that the Republic of Moldova was the first state to sign a Partnership in the field of security and defense with the European Union, on May 21, a partnership that plays a key role in the modernization and strengthening of the armed forces of the Republic of Moldova.
US ELECTION – Leaders from all over the world continue to react after Donald Trump announced his victory in the US presidential election. The current US President, Joe Biden, invited him to the White House and expressed his commitment to ensure a smooth transition. In turn, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, emphasized the “enduring alliance” and the “historic link” between the EU and the USA. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Donald Trump’s leadership will once again be essential to keeping the Alliance strong.
GERMANY – Germany’s liberal party has announced that all its ministers will leave Olaf Scholtz’s governing coalition, after the Chancellor fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Social Democrat Scholtz thus remains without a majority in the Chamber of Deputies. Scholtz has announced a confidence vote for January 15, which is expected to pave the way for snap elections in March. The bone of contention between Scholtz and his Finance Minister was covering the 2025 budget deficit, at a time when Germany is going through its second year of recession. Several economic sectors are struggling and announcing layoffs, such as the car industry.
FOOTBALL – Romanian football champions, FCSB, are tonight playing the Danish side FC Midtjylland at home, in a match counting towards the 4th round of Europa League. In the first three fixtures, FCSB grabbed two wins, 4-1, at home, against Rigas FS of Latvia, and 1-0, away from home, against the Greek club PAOK Thessaloniki, coached by Romanian Răzvan Lucescu, and sustained one defeat, in Scotland, 0-4 to Glasgow Rangers. (VP)
